New Mexico man indicted for 10th DWI arrest

Las Cruces, NM

A Summary: At 4:30 PM, a homeless man with 9 previous DWI arrests, still drunk from the night before, was pulled over while acting as the designated driver for his passenger, a man the cop (who once arrested a man with 23 prior DWIs) previously had arrested twice for DWI.

A homeless man was indicted Thursday after his 10th DWI arrest, according to court records.

The officer who arrested him said it is not the first time he has seen a 10-time offender.

Jose A. Gonzalez, 54, who once listed an address in La Mesa, N.M., was pulled over Jan. 5 for speeding in Vado, said arresting officer New Mexico State Police Patrolman Diego Herrera. Herrera said when he turned his siren on, he noticed Gonzalez attempt to turn away and almost hit a light pole. When Herrera walked up to the car he said he smelled alcohol and noticed several beer cans in the car. Herrera said when he asked Gonzalez to step out of the vehicle, he could not stand on his own and had to use the car to balance himself.

"What I remember the most about this arrest is that it was 4:30 in the afternoon and he said he was hung over from the night before," Herrera said. "I recognized the passenger. I had arrested him twice before for DWI."

Gonzalez refused a breath alcohol or blood test and was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, Herrera said. More >>

Pope waives hearing on DUI charge

I know nothing of the New Mexico State basketball roster, but this headline sure caught my attention...

New Mexico State University freshman forward Herb Pope waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Allegheny County District Court on Tuesday.

Pope initially faced misdemeanor charges of underage drinking, drunken driving and other charges, including recklessly endangering another person, stemming from a Dec. 28 arrest by police in Moon, Pa. Pope was found unresponsive in the driver's seat of a vehicle. Pope's attorney, Pittsburgh area lawyer Arnold Klein, said the underage drinking charge was dropped.

New Mexico deploys 500 sexy-talking urinal cakes to combat drunk driving

Rio Rancho, NM

Caption #1: That's not the only thing I have in my hand, sweetheart.

Caption #2: Is this intended to combat drunk driving or to let men in New Mexico know they can't even go to the men's room without a woman telling them what to do?

New Mexico is taking its fight against drunken driving to men's restrooms around the state.

The state has ordered 500 talking urinal cakes that will deliver a recorded anti-DWI message to bar and restaurant patrons who make one last pit stop before getting behind the wheel.

When a man steps up, the motion-sensitive plastic device says, in a woman's voice that is flirty, then stern:

"Hey, big guy. Having a few drinks?

Think you had one too many?

Then it's time to call a cab or call a sober friend for a ride home.

Remember, your future is in your hand."

Transportation Department spokesman S.U. Mahesh said the urinal cakes are a way to reach one group that's a target of state safety campaigns. Men commit about three times as many drunken-driving infractions as women. More >>